In warfare, air superiority is key, and the grim darkness of the far future is no exception. Above countless planets, engines scream as heroic pilots engage in savage dogfights, formations of bombers descend through clouds of smoke to unleash incendiary hell and dropships disgorge hordes of merciless killers from their holds to wreak havoc on the ground troops below. For every strategic challenge the battlefield provides, there are aircraft perfectly designed to meet it. Surgically precise individual strikes, indiscriminate destruction – all situations are catered for with a wide variety of craft from each and every warring race.

Death From the Skies is a must-buy for Warhammer 40,000 players – the 160-page hardback contains new rules for Flyers that completely replace those found in Warhammer 40,000, with datasheets including new Agility, Combat Role and Pursuit Value characteristics and options for fielding Flyer Wing units, with their own leaders. On top of this, the book introduces the Dogfight phase – detailed combat between Flyers is now possible!

Included are 21 datasheets spanning the armies of Warhammer 40,000, 6 new Air War missions and ten new formations allowing you to field squadrons of aircraft, as well as a host of background on the various races’ aircraft squadrons, markings and famous battles. This, a copy of Warhammer 40,000 and some aircraft are everything you need to fight thrilling aerial battles in the skies of the 41st Millennium!

An awesome sight, descending at incredible velocities from orbiting warships to engage and annihilate enemy craft, Stormhawk Interceptors are a stunning hymn to aerial superiority that the Space Marines sing with gusto. The frontal armour and huge firepower makes them excellent dogfighters, hurtling through the clouds to execute target after target in a blazing display of incendiary defiance. Often seen in Vehemence Attack Patterns, Stormhawk squadrons and their golden haloes of flares discharged to gently dissuade incoming fire are a signal that whatever planet the skies are over, they belong to the Emperor.

This multi-part plastic kit contains all the components necessary to assemble one Stormhawk Interceptor, ruler of the skies and destroyer of the Imperium’s flying enemies. Armed with a twin-linked assault cannon, a las-talon (which can be replaced with an icarus stormcannon,) twin-linked heavy bolters (which can be replaced with either a skyhammer missile launcher or typhoon missile launcher) and an infernum halo-launcher. Supplied with a transfer sheet, one Citadel 120mmx92mm Oval base and a flying stem.

There’s nothing more satisfying to an Ork than going fast. Well, except maybe lots of dakka. And explosions. and shouting “WAAAGH!” really, really loudly. What happens when you combine these loves into a single vehicle? The Wazbom Blastajet, that’s what! Madcap, improvised flying machines covered in improbable weaponry, these ferociously shooty jets are piloted by the maddest Mekboyz, flying in tight mob formations, competing to see who can blow stuff up in the most hilarious manner. The more hapless enemies dissolved by searing energies, teleported into oblivion or hurled through the skies to their messy demise the better – every kill means more scrap for the Mekboyz to gather up and nail to their Blastajet skwadrons!

I’m glad to see new flyers and flyer rules – however, I’m concerned about the addition of the extra phases. Did we need the added complexity? How will this affect FMCs? It could be interesting and a lot of fun…

The two new flyers are also reboxes of the old flyers with additional sprues added. Very reminiscent of the Knight/Knight-Warden rebox. So keep that in mind if you’re looking to buy!